Researchers at General Electric have developed a device that can quickly measure the calories in your food by utilizing just three pieces of information: fat content, water content, and weight. From this data its able to approximate the calories of your meal, and the team at GE Research is hoping to eventually incorporate the technology into appliances like microwaves.
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Part of losing weight boils down to making tweaks to the simple equation of calories in versus calories out.
Americans spend over $60 billion a year on diet and weight loss products, according to market research, but the weight often comes right back. That may be because it’s such a hassle to count calories — tracking everything you order or cook at home.
But recently, General Electric cell biologist Matt Webster told Morning Edition hosts Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne about a new calorie counting device that could make the job easier.
The device uses microwaves and scales to measure food. You simply place it over your plate and it shows you how much energy is in what you’re about to eat.
“We have the weight of the food and the proportion that’s water and the proportion that’s fat, and from that information, we can estimate calories,” Webster says.
But there’s a long way to go before you will be able slap the gizmo on your dinner dish. The product is still in testing phase — and hasn’t even measured “real” food yet.
“Right now, we’re limited to a blended sample in a box,” Webster says.
via NPR
